Tag Archives: continuation

Donald remains in the hunt in California after rising to fifth at halfway stage of Northern Trust Open

By
Steven Donaldson

PUBLISHED:

07:22 GMT, 16 February 2013

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UPDATED:

11:27 GMT, 16 February 2013

World No 3 Luke Donald put himself firmly in contention as Bae Sang-moon and Fredrik Jacobson shared the lead at the halfway stage of the Northern Trust Open in California.

England's Donald, playing his first tournament since November, produced a five-under 66 to sit seven under overall, two off the leading pair of South Korea's Bae and Sweden's Jacobson on nine under.

Donald, 18th overnight, carded seven birdies against two bogeys to end day two fifth – and he could have been in a share of third alongside Americans John Merrick and John Rollins but for a dropped shot on his penultimate hole, the par-four eighth.

Climbing the leaderboard: Luke Donald hit five under par to rise to seventh

NORTHERN TRUST OPEN

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Donald told www.pgatour.com: 'Happy with my score, obviously coming off a pretty good break, you never know with how you're going to deal with being back in competition again but certainly a big improvement today, ball striking wise and my short game has been very sharp.

'I've been excited about that. It's been a big key to my score so far, and, yeah, excited to be in the mix again.'

On the top of the pile though were Jacobson and Bae, both of whom were six under for the day to climb from sixth to joint first.

Surveying the scene: Donald and his caddie John McLaren walks up to the sixth green

For Jacobson it was a continuation of the form which saw him finish seventh at Pebble Beach last week.

'Obviously I take a lot out of that, just being in contention again,' Jacobson said. 'I've had some good practice sessions before, but to bring it on the course and play under pressure, that's what it's about.'

There was no room to relax, though, with a number of notable names on the heels of the top five.

Leading the way: Fredrik Jacobson shares the lead at the halfway stage

World No 8 Lee Westwood headed up a group of three players on six under, which also included major winners Charl Schwartzel and Webb Simpson.

Overnight leader Matt Kuchar was among the players on five under having carded a two-over 73, as was defending champion Bill Haas, while Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson were all four under.

Out in front: Sang-Moon Bae is going well in California

Among the remainder of the British contingent, Brian Davis (three under), Greg Owen (two under), David Lynn (one under) and Ross Fisher (one over) all made the cut, but Martin Laird and Graeme McDowell missed out.

Arsene Wenger has called Pat Rice 'a true Arsenal legend' after confirming the departure of his assistant this summer.

Rice is to leave the club at the end of the season after a 44-year association with the Gunners, and will sit in the dug-out for the final time this weekend as Wenger's trusted aide. He enjoyed a farewell barbeque with Wenger and the first-team squad on Wednesday night.

Steve Bould has won the race to become Arsenal's new No 2 with Wenger plotting the biggest shake-up to his coaching set-up of his 16-year reign.

Thanks for the memories: Pat Rice is quitting as Arsenal assistant manager

Bould, the former Arsenal defender, will be promoted from his current role as youth team coach.

Wenger said: 'I always want to give a chance to people who know how we coach. Steve is a very good coach and brings a continuation of our philosophy.'

Reserve team manager Neil Banfield is also set for promotion and will be new first-team coach.

Wenger said: 'Pat is a true Arsenal legend and has committed almost his whole life to Arsenal Football Club, which shows huge loyalty and devotion to this club.

'Pat has been amazing for me over the past 16 years. When I first arrived at Arsenal, Pat was always there and taught me so much about this great club.

Come in No 2: Steve Bould will be Arsene Wenger's new assistant

'I will always be indebted to him for his expert insight into Arsenal and football as a whole.

'On the training pitches and on matchdays, Pat has always been a passionate, loyal and insightful colleague, who we will all miss.

'Thank you Pat, we'll miss you and all of us wish you and your family the best of health and happiness for the future.

'Although, we'll still see Pat a lot, as I know he's planning to come to all the home matches as a supporter!'

Right hand man: Wenger and Rice have worked together since 1996

Rice, 63, first joined as a youth team player back in 1964, was a double-winner in 1971 and captained the side to the FA Cup in 1979. He made 528 appearances for Arsenal over 14 seasons.

Arsenal won seven major honours with Rice as Wenger's assistant from 1996 – three Premier League titles and four FA Cups, including two doubles in 1998 and 2002.

Ex-Arsenal defender Bould, who made 372 appearances, is in his 11th year of working with the club's academy set-up.